Paper container



June 5, 1934- E. z. TAYLOR 6 ,5

PAPER CONTAINER Filed 001). 22, 1931 Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STAT-ES, PATENT OFFICE PAPER CONTAINER Elmer Zebley Taylor, Newark, N. J.

Application October 22, 1931, Serial No. 570,427

10 Claims. (01. 229-51) This invention relates to paper containers applicable for use in the delivery of milk, frozen orange juice, drinking water, and the like, and consisting of a conical body in the smaller end of which a bottom is secured, and adapted to be closed by a flanged disc inserted to a shoulder near the upper or larger end of the body and crimped in by suitable means.

Although as hereinafter described it is proposed that the improved container shall be made with its smaller end closed, and then filled and the closure at the larger end inserted and crimped in, and finally reversed so that the smaller end becomes the top, it will be readily understood. that the special means for opening may be applied to the larger end instead of the smaller, in which case such larger end will remain as the top.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of opening containers of this. class, and it is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:--

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a container made in accordance with the invention, and standing with its smaller end uppermost.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are views of the upper end of such a container in different stages of the opening operation, and

Fig. 5 is a plan View on a smaller scale of the blank which is to be rolled up to form the conical body.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the blank employed for the closure at the smaller end of the container, and

Fig. '7 a sectional view of same formed up ready for use.

Fig. 8 is a plan view'of the blank used when the opening means are applied to the larger end of the container, and

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a container made from the blank shown in Fig. 8.

From this drawing it will be seen that the container consists of a conical body 1, the smaller end of which is closed by a flanged disc 2 held in place by rolling the smaller end of the body inwards into contact with the flange 3, and continuing the rolling with the fiange enclosed, while the larger end is formed with a shoulder 4 against which a flanged disc 5 is' fitted, the larger end of the body-being then rolled inwardly into contact with the disc 5. In the continuation of this rolling the edge of the disc 5 will be included, so that such disc will be very securely held in place and a perfectly tight joint obtained.

Containers of the general construction abov described have usually been used with their larger end uppermost, in which case a plain cardboard disc has constituted the lid. According to the present invention however, after filling the container with the desired liquid or other commodity and inserting and crimping in the disc 5 0 at its larger'end, such container may be reversed and delivered to the purchaser in the position shown in Fig. 1 with its smaller end uppermost, the means hereinafter described being provided to enable it to be readily opened at such smaller end. Such means may however be applied to the larger end if desired, as shown in Fig. 9.

When the container is to be opened at the smaller end, as in Fig. 1, the paper blanks 6 from which the side walls or bodies of the containers are made are each provided with two weakening lines l3, 14, shown clearly in Fig. 5. Although the direction in which these weakening lines extend around the blank is capable of wide variation, a suitable arrangement is that shown in Fig. 5, which illustrates the complete blank ready to be rolled up. The part 8 of the blank, above line A, is that in which the shoulder 4 is formed; the part 9, below line B, is that which is to be turned in to hold the flanged disc 2 in place; the part 10, to the right of the line C, forms the outer layer of the finished container; the part 11, between lines C and D, is that where the two layers overlap each other, and the part 12, to the left of. line D, forms 5 the inner layer one surface of which is exposed to the milk or other contents of the container. It will be seen that one, 13, of the weakening lines extends right round the blank parallel with the edge thereof, while the other line, 14, preferably extends in a spiral direction across parts 10 and 11 and then continues parallel to line 13 across part 12, the result of this arrangement being that when the end of the container is torn' off as hereinafter described the edge left will be practically straight, as shown in Fig. 4. The spiral arrangement may however continue throughout the whole length of the line 14.

The weakening lines 13, 14, may be produced by means ofa scoring rule, suflicient pressure being applied to perish the paper to a certain extent without perforating it. This method will be found to effect the desired object satisfactorily, as the material will be sufiiciently weakened to tear readily and uniformly without causing it to bulge or lie unevenly, which would interiere with the subsequent rolling operation.

The weakening lines may however be produced in any other suitable way, as for instance if the material is suitable by a series of perforations in the form of slits or holes. If slits are used they may be arranged in a straight line or in herring-bone or other fashion in relation to each other, or in a combination of any of these arrangements, but in any case their general line will preferably follow that of the weakening lines 13, 14 shown on the body blank in Fig. 5.

A small extension of the blank may be formed as at 15, between the points where the two weakening lines reach the edge, to serve as a tab as hereinafter described.

The blank it is preferred to employ for the flanged disc 2 forming the closure at the small end of the container is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, where it will be seen that its outer edge has a series of notches or serrations 7 cut in it, the object of this being to facilitate the subsequent operation of crimping the disc in place in the container. If such notches were not provided the flange would be so compressed when the disc is inserted that distorting ribs would be formed which would render the crimping operation very difficult, and this is overcome by shaping the blank in substantially the manner shown, as the edge of the flange can then be easily rolled in with the edge of the body.

The flanged disc 5 constituting the closure for the larger end of the container is preferably formed from a plain blank which may have been previously waxed.

It will be seen that the weakening lines 13, 14 described will not affect the manufacture of the complete container as above set forth. When complete and filled with its larger end uppermost and the closure 5 inserted and properly crimped in, it is as stated to be reversed, bringing its smaller end uppermost, and to open it all that it is necessary to do is to pull on the tab 15, when the material of the outer ply will break along the weakening lines 13, 14, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thus separating the outer ply from the inner. When one complete circuit has been thus tom the inner ply of the body will be left standing above the outer ply, and as the tearing is continued the upper edge of the container, and with it the flanged disc 2, will be completely removed, leaving the container with its small upper end open, as shown in Fig. 4, and enabling the contents to be poured out or drunk as desired.

An important advantage secured by this method of opening is that by thus removing the entire top of the container any dust or dirt that may have accumulated will be removed, the spiral arrangement of the line 14 leaving the inner layer exposed for a sumcient distance down the body to permit drinking from the container without the lips coming in contact with the previously exposed exterior.

In case it is desired to provide a temporary cover for the container, in the event of its contents not being used immediately, the weakenlng lines 13, 14, may be stopped a short distance from the edge of the inner lap, so that the remaining untorn portion will form a hinge on which the almost completely removed top may be turned to open or close the container.

In some cases it may be desired that the larger end of the container should constitute the top, and the blank for the body is then made as shown in Fig. 8 with the weakening lines 13, 14, at the other end. The general construction of the container, and the method of opening, will remain the same as hereinbefore described.

It will of course be understood that the adhesive used in rolling up the body blank must be such as will enable the two layers to be separated as above described, taking into account the waxing or other treatment to which the finished container is to be subjected to render it waterproof, germ-proof and hygienic.

In some cases, however, it may be found desirable to so construct and arrange the pasting mechanism either that no adhesive will be applied to the part of the blank between the two weakening lines, or that adhesive shall only be applied in spots or short lines at suitable points between such lines sufficient to meet the requirements, in either of which cases the wax or other waterproofing agent employed may be relied on to cause the parts to adhere together sufficiently until it is desired to open the container. If the containers are not to be waxed before use it may be found desirable to employ a weak form of adhesive, sufiiciently strong to hold the parts together but weak enough to permit of the separation of the strip by tearing it 01f as described.

What I claim and desire to secure is:-

1. A paper container comprising a doublewalled body and end closures, and made from a blank having two weakening lines disposed near the edge at which the finished container is to be opened, the weakening line nearest such edge being substantially parallel therewith and the other spirally arranged and widening out on the outer layer in relation to said first mentioned line, so that when the strip of material between such weakening lines is torn out a portion of the inner layer will be left projecting above the outer layer.

2. In a paper container comprising a doublewalled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the body and arranged spirally around that portion which constitutes the outer layer and parallel with the edge'of the blank around the portion which constitutes the inner layer, and a second weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout its length.

3. In a paper container comprising a doublewalled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the" body and arranged spirally around that portion which constitutes the outer layer and parallel with the edge of the blank around the portion which constitutes the inner layer, and a second weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout itslength, such weakening lines terminating a short distance from one end of the blank to leave an unweakened portion.

4. In a paper container comprising a doublewalled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the body and arranged spirally around that portion -which constitutes the outer layer and parallel with the edge of the blank around the portion which constitutes the inner layer, and a second weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout its length, and the end closures comprising flanged discs disposed in the weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout its length, the two walls of the body blank being secured together by an adhesive excepting at the portion situated between the weakening lines.

6. In a paper container comprising a doublewalled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the body and arranged spirally around that portion which constitutes the outer layer and parallel with the edge of the blank around the portion which constitutes the inner layer, and a second weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout its length, the two walls of the body blank being secured together by an adhesive, excepting at the portion situated between the weakening lines where a weaker adhesive is employed.

7. In a paper container comprising a double walled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the body and arranged spirally around that portion which constitutes the outer layer and parallel with'the edge of the blank around the portion which constitutes the inner layer, and a second weakening line arranged parallel to the edge oi the blank throughout its'length, the two walls of the body blank being secured together by an adhesive excepting at the portion between the weakening lines, which portion is only partially coated with adhesive.

8. In a paper container comprising a double- .walled body and suitable end closures, the formation of a weakening line in the material of the weakening line arranged parallel to the edge of the blank throughout its length, and an extension being left on the body blank at one end between the ends of such weakening lines.

9. A paper blank for forming the two layer wall of a container, comprising an inner end portion of sufiicient length to form an inner layer, an outer end portion united thereto and of sufficient length to form an outer layer around the inner layer, said blank having a pair of weakening lines, spaced apart and spaced from one side edge of the blank, said weakening lines extending from end to end of the blank and forming a tearing strip therebetween, the portions of the said weakening lines which extend across the inner end portion of the blank being parallel to said side edge and to each other and the portions of the said weakening lines which extend across the outer end portion of the blank being divergent to the outer end of the outer layer to correspondingly widen the outer end of the tearing strip.

10. A paper container having a wall comprising an inner layer and an outer layer which completely covers the inner layer, said wall having a pair of weakening lines near but spaced from one end of the container and which weakening lines extend from the inner end of the inner layer to the outer end of the outer layer, the weakening line of said outer layer which is farthest from said end of the wall being spiral, and a closure in said end of the container united to, the inner and outer layers of the wall and hence entirely out from said end of the container when the tearing strip formed between the weakening lines of the outer layer is removed and said end of the inner layer being exposed and uncovered when said tearing strip is so removed from the outer layer.

ELMER. ZEBLEY TAYLOR. 

